proverb · Words worth keeping
A thousand dogs can’t catch up with a gazelle.
A thousand dogs can’t catch up with a gazelle.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A thousand dogs unable to catch a gazelle gives a single creature an advantage over a large number. The saying distinguishes quantity from what the pursuit requires.
Example
A team examines the method behind a stalled task instead of only adding more people.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The numerical animal comparison is an exaggeration, not a verified behaviour or speed measurement. A useful interpretation can ask whether more participants solve a task’s actual difficulty. Numbers can matter, but an unsuitable approach may remain unsuitable when repeated.
When to use it
Use it to distinguish relevant capability from headcount.
Keep in mind
No animal performance rule or universal superiority of a single participant is established.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- Middle East